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#3857 -
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Editor: Jerry Katz
The Nonduality Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
Awakening
by Colin Drake
Awakening is simply a matter of rousing
ourselves from the dream that we are separate objects
(mind/bodies) in a universe of separate objects. This is achieved
by inquiring into our own nature and discovering the deeper level
in which thoughts/sensations occur, are seen and dissolve. This
rising, existing and subsiding of thoughts and sensations is an
ongoing process and that which constitutes our moment-to-moment
experience. The body is experienced as a stream of sensations
whilst the mind is experienced as a stream of thoughts (which
includes mental images), which leaves the question of who, or
what, is the experiencer?? We tend to think of this as the mind
but this is obviously not the deepest level of experiencing, as
the mind itself (the flow of thoughts) is just an experience!
Similarly with the body where sensations occur and are detected
by the nervous system, and other sense organs, this too is just
an experience … So what is it that ‘sees’ and
‘feels’ these experiences, this deeper level of our
being, the true experiencer and enjoyer of our existence? That
which we feel we have always ‘been’ and that which
seems to have been the constant unchanging basis of our lives.
This is evidently not the body, for we
speak of its parts as ‘mine’, my hand, my head, my
stomach and so on … Therefore who is the owner of this
complex organism? Similarly with the mind we speak of ‘my
thoughts on the matter are …’ or ‘my preference
is’ etc… So who is it that owns these thoughts or
preferences? The problem here is that we tend to identify with
the mind and these become ‘I think’ or ‘I
prefer’, but this still leaves the question who is this
‘I’ that thinks or prefers?
The clue is that we could not survive
without being aware of our thoughts and sensations (mind/body),
which leads to the undeniable conclusion that it is this very
awareness that is the deeper level of being … in fact who
(or what) we are! For this is that in which our thoughts and
sensations arise, exist, are seen, and subside. This is
ever-present for whenever a thought/sensation arises there is
awareness of it, and this is the witness of all our experiences,
the unchanging basis of our existence.
At this point just take a few moments to
notice how thoughts/sensations come and go whilst awareness, that
which sees these fleeting objects, is a constant presence.
This is pointed to by Advaita Vedanta
which regards man as a physical organism through which Brahman
(awareness, consciousness) senses and experiences the world. The
Kena Upanishad states that it is the Self (Brahman, awareness)
which is the agent and witness, through which the mind thinks and
the senses experience sensations. However this Self is
undetectable by the mind and senses, being the substratum in
which they appear, exist and disappear. (Kena Upanishad 1v.1-9)
Moreover, due to its undetectable nature, it is very easy for man
to overlook his true nature and identify with the mind and body.
The Katha Upanishad likens man to a chariot, of which the atman
(the Self, Brahman within each individual) is the master, the
body is the chariot, the mind is the charioteer, the sense organs
are the horses and the roads they travel on are the objects of
sensation. The atman is the enjoyer and experiencer of the ride,
which is made possible by the charioteer, chariot and horses.
(Katha Upanishad 3v.3-4) So Brahman needs the mind and senses, to
enjoy and experience the physical world. However when the mind is
unaware of the master’s presence, through lack of
discrimination, it is unable to control the senses which run amok
like wild horses (Ibid 3v.5). Brahman, pure consciousness, is
hidden in every heart, being the eternal witness watching
everything one does. He is said to be ‘the operator’
whilst we are his ‘innumerable instruments’.
(Svetasvetara Upanishad 6v.10-12)
Although this is interesting it is of no use until one has become ‘aware of awareness’ for oneself through direct investigation of one’s own moment-to-moment experience, after which the above acts as an inspiring form of confirmation of that which one has discovered. My book Beyond The Separate Self is designed to provide a framework within which the reader may carry out this investigation for him/herself, enabling the direct discovery of this level of being that is deeper than thoughts and sensations (body/mind).
~ ~ ~
Colin Drake is the author of Beyond the Separate Self, an e-book which you may order for $8 and downloaded right away.
http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1181830
You may read more about his book here, including excerpts, table of contents, and index:
http://nonduality.com/btss.htm
Colin's next book is Humanity: Our Place in the Universe. The Central Beliefs of the World's Religions. It will be available as soon as the index is completely, hopefully a couple of weeks.
Other books accepted for publication by Nonduality Publications include Dutch Treat, by Zil Chezero.
I invite other submissions, such as compilations of postings to the Nonduality Salon group from people who have been solid and longtime contributors. I can also publish e-book versions of your hard copy books. A trend in publishing is toward the e-book, and Nonduality Publications should be able to provide a rewarding experience for authors.
-Jerry Katz